On August 30th until September 1st 2016, Mrs. Deffi Ayu Puspito Sari, PhD participated in IFS-SEARCA Workshop on Collaborative Research in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Collaborative research was introduced into 10-year strategic plan of the International Foundation for Science (IFS) in 2011 and first piloted in 2012-2013.

The first call for Expressions of Interest asked for people to collaborate on research into neglected and underutilized species. The Pilot 1 countries were Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, with financing from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The second call for Expressions of Interest for 2013-2014 asked for applications for research on biodiversity. The Pilot 2 countries were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, financed by Carnegie and The Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO).In 2015, IFS and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) agreed to pilot collaborative research in a number of Southeast Asian countries where the two organizations are both active. The third call for Expressions of Interest went out in the second week of January 2016 asking for people to collaborate on research into climate change adaptation and mitigation. Pilot 3 is finances by the Carolina Mac Gillavry Fund and SEARCA. It covers Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.This IFS-SEARCA Workshop in Collaborative Research is by invitation for all applicants who pass pre-screening. The purpose of the workshop is to improve the quality and effectiveness of collaborative research on climate change adaptation and mitigation through building the capability of early career scientists in collaborative research concepts, approaches, design, methods and analysis. The workshop’s specific objectives are for participants to:

1. Learn more about key concepts and issues in climate change adaptation and mitigation and relate these to their own research proposals.2. Become more aware of concepts, approaches, design, methods and analysis in working together as collaborative researchers.3. Learn from the experiences of researchers already involved in collaborative research.4. Broaden their scientific networks and strengthen their research collaboration potential.5. Get to know their own and other team members.

All participants of IFS-SEARCA Workshop on Collaborative Research

Mrs. Deffi along with her team members (Indonesia-Myanmar) with Ms. Annika Eriksson (IFS Stockholm) and Mr. William Savage (IFS Facilitator)